747 at Heathrow

[robin]

I've been looking at the AAIB report for this 747 bimbling around the SE, then deciding to choose to put down on LHR despite having flown by a number of suitable alternatives

I just can't believe that, given current state of alert, anyone would have permitted this to happen.

We (drivers) are always being told that if we will be escorted elsewhere and/or shot down if we were to try anything like this.

We know that controllers can't actual control what pilots choose to do, but this seems outrageous.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

It's alright to say it was outrageous, but what would YOU have suggested? ATC did a fantastic job and ATC cannot instruct a pilot to divert if he doesn't want to. The pilot asked to land at Heathrow. He had a potentially catastrophic situation and ATC rendered every possible assistance to get the aeroplane down safely. The aeroplane was under radar control all the time so the question of it being "escorted" somewhere does not enter the equation.

Maybe I read a different report?

[5milesbaby]

I agree HD, and given hindsight then maybe it could have turned out differently as Gatwick would have been suitable, but there was a question as to whether Stansted would have been made IF the engines had all failed. The crew had flown past Heathrow, seen its suitable size and the CAVOK conditions and having few charts for UK airports decided that Heathrow was where they wanted to go.

Robin, look and see where the a/c actually declared the emergency, it was by Detling VOR which limited the possible airfields for diversion. Although its looks like faulty indications were to blame, at the time the crew were not aware of this and so potentially we were dealing with a powerless a/c so had to think extremely quickly to give the best chance of making an airport.

[VectorLine]

A link to the report please?

Thanks

VL

[sss]

try the publications section of the aaib website

[AlanM]

or look here http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=205977

[DubTrub]

Evergreen N481EV (http://www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/january_2006.cfm)